When NBA Commissioner Adam Silver announced Penn State’s Yanic Konan Niederhäuser as the final pick in the first round of the 2025 NBA Draft on Wednesday night, the 22-year-old etched his name into NIU’s history books.
A 6-foot-11 center who began his career at NIU, Konan Niederhäuser was selected 30th overall by the Los Angeles Clippers, becoming the first former Huskie taken in the first round since 1989. It’s yet another stop on a basketball journey that’s led him from Switzerland to Germany to DeKalb to State College – and now, to Los Angeles.
“I’m very proud of Yanic,” said NIU men’s basketball head coach Rashon Burno. “I remember bringing him here and telling him after a workout that he had the chance to play at the next level, so to see that come to fruition, I couldn’t be happier for him and his family. I thought Yanic gave us everything that he had and I’m super excited for his future.”
Konan Niederhäuser’s rise to the big leagues hasn’t been typical, though. He arrived at NIU in 2022 following a season-long stint with the German club team Ehingen Urspring. As a freshman, he averaged 2.2 points and 1.5 rebounds per game. He then took a leap in his sophomore year, posting 7.3 points, 4.4 rebounds and 2.1 blocks per game — the top mark in the Mid-American Conference.
After a disappointing 11-20 campaign in 2023-24, Konan Niederhäuser transferred to Penn State for his junior season, where he earned an All-Big Ten Honorable Mention and developed into a pro-level prospect. He finished his lone season with the Nittany Lions averaging 12.9 points with 61.1% shooting, a team-best 6.3 rebounds and a league-best 2.3 blocks per game.
Konan Niederhäuser declared for the NBA draft on April 2, but maintained his college eligibility to keep the door open to return for his senior season. At the time, Konan Niederhäuser was projected to be a second-round pick or to go undrafted.
The Switzerland native later received an invite to the G League Elite Camp in early May, where he put on a standout performance with 15.5 points, 6.0 rebounds and 1.5 blocks per game while shooting 82.4% from the field over that weekend. Shortly after, Konan Niederhäuser became one of the select few prospects to earn a spot at the following week’s NBA draft combine.
Along with a 243-pound frame, Konan Niederhäuser comes with a 7-foot-3 wingspan and a 9-foot-3 standing reach that bolster him as a rim-running, shot-blocking presence on the floor. His player archetype has also drawn professional comparisons to forward-centers Daniel Gafford (Dallas Mavericks) and Jaxson Hayes (Los Angeles Lakers).
“We’re super excited with our draft pick of Yanic Konan Niederhäuser,” Clippers president of basketball operations Lawrence Frank said in a press conference Wednesday night. “Long story short, I think his best basketball is ahead of him. He’s got great size. He’s a terrific athlete.”
Despite being a first-round draft choice, Konan Niederhäuser isn’t expected to be an immediate contributor for Los Angeles. The Clippers are anchored on defense by veteran 7-foot center Ivica Zubac, fresh off a career year of 16.8 points and 12.6 rebounds per game.
The only other former NIU player to be drafted in the first round is Kenny Battle, selected 27th overall by the Detroit Pistons in 1989 before being sent to the Phoenix Suns as part of a draft-day trade. More recently, Abdel Nader — who began his college career at NIU before playing his last two seasons at Iowa State University – was selected 58th overall in the 2016 NBA Draft by the Boston Celtics.
The next step for Konan Niederhäuser will be the NBA Summer League held from July 10 to July 20 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Though his playing time is expected to be limited by an ankle injury he was nursing during the pre-draft process, Konan Niederhäuser will have an opportunity to showcase his abilities alongside other rookies, sophomores and G League affiliate players.
